Uh oh, 4th of July Parades Create Republicans

A new Harvard Study (yes, that Harvard) concludes that patriotic events, like 4th of July parades, creates more Republicans.

Hey, it’s not often a Harvard Study supports conventional wisdom, so we must take the time to point it out.

Here’s the money quote:

“Our estimates are signiﬁcant: one Fourth of July without rain before age 18 raises the likelihood of identifying as a Republican by 2 percent and voting for the Republican candidate by 4 percent. It also increases voter turnout by 0.9 percent and boosts political campaign contributions by 3 percent. Taken together, the evidence suggests that important childhood events can have persistent effects on political beliefs and participation and

that Fourth of July celebrations in the US affect the nation’s political landscape.”

This 4th of July we celebrate our 235th birthday as a nation and we hope and pray for political unity, but it must be a unity centered around patriotism and our nations founding. Often we hear politicians and media talk about where the “middle ground” should be, where we should find common ground and unity. We find common ground and unity in our Founding Documents and celebrating what we should all hold dear and in common.

Frankly, while not surprising, this Harvard study is disturbing. Republicans and conservatives do not hold a “lock” on these values and principles, they are there for all to cherish. They are truths that are “self evident,” meaning just about anybody should be able to figure out their value and import. As we attend yet another 4th of July parade with family, friends and fellow patriots we welcome all who wish to take these “self evident” truths of Liberty and freedom and value them, regardless of political persuasion.

To my Democrat friends who see themselves as more obsessed with social engineering than with personal liberties, you might want to ask yourself, who moved from our founding principles? In this instance, Harvard actually has the answer.